Page 13 of Beautiful Cruelty

Well… All except one.

Chrysalis Designs, a high-end accessories vendor, announced that their CEO was tragically killed in a car accident on the Pacific Coast Highway. I only know their name because Nathan had been working late on a deal with them a few months ago.

A chill runs over my skin and tingles flare over my scalp as I quickly slip the paper back into the pocket. I feel like I'm doingsomething wrong. Like I'm spying on something that I shouldn't be.

I check out my reflection holding the oversized suit in the little mirror in front of the bed.

Megan is right, Idon’thave to fall in love again.

And what I’m about to do… it’s not love. It’s not even lust.

It’s about taking back some measure of control. To not feel so helpless after a day where every bit of control was stolen from me—from Nathan’s betrayal, to Freddy’s cruel words, and down to how helpless I feel every time I see Dad.

I might’ve lost control over everything else, but I can still controlthis.

Slowly, I strip my clothes off until I'm naked, and put Vadim’s suit jacket on. The cashmere wool feels like water against my skin. I run my fingers over the impeccable finish and stitching, and feel both my breath and heartbeat quickening at how reckless I’m about to be.

I line up my phone just enough to cover my eyes, and nothing else.

My heart races at the thought of what I'm about to do.

Reckless or not. It’s stillmychoice.

The camera shutter clicks, loud as a gunshot. With each picture, I feel myself growing bolder. I tease the lapel open to expose my breasts. I bite my lower lip to make it look like I'm in the throes of my own ecstasy.

But it still doesn't feel quite right.

It doesn't feel like it'senough.

I need something else.

Slowly, I lie back onto the bed and scoot up just a tiny bit so that all of me is visible in the mirror. With one trembling breath after another, I open my legs, thinking about the way he looked at me.

Have you considered serving yourself up like an appetizer to him?

I stick my index finger into my mouth and lick it, tasting the remnants of the cupcakes as my imagination starts taking over.

I suck my finger as I take one picture after another, wondering what Vadim might look like with his shirt off.

With those broad shoulders and powerful legs, heisyummy.

Wetness pools between my legs, and my breath starts coming out in small, ragged gasps.

Slowly, my finger moves from my mouth down to the gap between my legs, where my underwear is already damp. My lips part as I expose my pussy, and dip a single finger between its dripping folds.

The camera shutter clicks one final time.

And then, before I can stop myself from doing the most reckless thing I've ever done in my life, I text him that photo.

Putting my phone onDo Not Disturb, I throw it aside, close my eyes, and imagine Vadim slowly unzipping his pants as my fingers start dancing between my legs.

4

LACEY

I wakeup to the insistent beep of my alarm, heart pounding as I remember what I did last night. My phone sits accusingly on the nightstand, still onDo Not Disturb.

"Please don't let that have been real," I whisper, reaching for it with shaking fingers and check my messages.

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